It is easy for F1 enthusiasts to criticize the FIA rulemakers from the virtual sidelines - we all do it at times. Creating rules for a sport as complex as F1 with its high tech, obscure opportunities for cheating and fierce competition is a massive task and it is no surprise that opinions vary so widely as to the best way to solve any problem that appears. But there are times when it appears that one of the reasons the FIA attracts so much criticism is that they have a talent for creating the wrong rule in the first place, and then piling unworkable solutions upon it in an effort to force it to work.
Was Heidfeld blocked?
This year the FIA, in an attempt to banish the fuel-burning period that showed their qualifying rules to be a farce, cut Q3 to ten minutes only and decreed that no replacement of fuel used in Q3 would be allowed. A storm of protest erupted on the internet, innumerable bloggers pointing out that this would give rise to a highly dangerous situation, with cars touring around slowly after completing their quick laps, while others were still at full speed. Two races into the season, exactly that has happened and the McLaren duo have been penalized for "blocking" on their slowing down lap. If mere bloggers could see the flaws in the changes, why couldn't the FIA?
I am not going to argue over the justice of the penalty. No doubt there will be heated discussions over the matter for some time to come; always the case where the application of a rule is subject to the stewards' opinion. It matters much more to me that the FIA learn from this that their qualifying rules are hopelessly and unnecessarily complex and subject to interpretation. Already there are suggestions that even further complication is introduced to insist that drivers be penalized for returning to the pits at too slow a speed. My purpose in writing this is to try to be heard above the crowd as I shout (not for the first time), "For crying out loud, people, enough already!"
When will we realize that all our debates over which qualifying system is best only serve to divide our efforts to yell some sense into the FIA? I find it tiresome that, every time we try to suggest that the existing qualifying system is broken, we get bogged down in details of previous systems and trot forth the usual arguments for our favorites. The message needs to be that the FIA have well and truly screwed the qualifying process and that they need to return to square one to start again.
It is obvious what the main problem is at the moment - the insistence on cars in Q3 not being allowed to refuel afterwards is idiotic, we are all agreed on that. There is less consensus over the three knockout rounds but there can be no doubt that this is at the heart of the constant rule changes we have witnessed. For once, let us forget our own pet theories and unite in agreement that qualifying has been completely ruined by the FIA's tinkering over the years. It is time to go back to basics.
Never mind the fact that you might have liked the system briefly in existence in 1991 or whenever; plenty of people did not and we merely deflect ourselves from the real issue by arguing over such details. What is needed now is a strong consensus that forces the FIA to return to a very basic format of an hour or so of qualifying, no restrictions on fuel levels or tires, just go for it and let the best man grab pole.
From that position, we might be able to see how things can be improved - but this time let any tweaking be done after careful consideration and consultation. The major motive for most of the changes to qualifying in the last decade has been to improve "the show". It is time for us, as the viewers, to admit that we would rather sit through half an hour of empty track than suffer the ignominy of our favorite sport being reduced to a farce.
It is qualifying, for Pete's sake - something that only diehard fans could be bothered to watch. And diehards do not need to be entertained with flash and glitz all the time; they understand why there will be times when the track is empty. Let the TV commentators earn their pay in the empty periods.
The prime intent of qualifying is to establish the order for the grid. Complicating the system in an effort to make it more watchable on TV is not only doomed to failure, it interferes with that prime aim. It is not entertaining to see your heroes demoted from a grid spot because they have inadvertently contravened some petty entry in the labyrinthine rulebook, it is not entertaining to have some drivers effectively given no chance at a decent spot because some minor glitch has left them with insufficient time to get on the track again, it is not entertaining to know that the times set in Q2 will be faster than those in Q3 because the top ten are artificially disadvantaged by some stupid fuel level regulation.
Enough, I say. The system is broken and the FIA has run out of duct tape to patch it with. Back to basics is the only way to solve the mess once and for all.